LWV-Wilmette Eyewitness/Observer Corps
First Person Reports on Meeting of Wilmette Area Governments
Monitoring local government meeting is a long-established practice of the League of Women Voters. It is one approach to help inform citizens about current issues and their governments.
Members volunteer to attend or watch a meeting and share what they observed in a written report
Members volunteer to attend or watch a meeting and share what they observed in a written report
Recent Updates
As of April 12, 2019:
Since last month’s report, LWVW Observers attended various local government board meetings, and observed the following:
Village Board: By consensus the VB agreed to make a major structural change to the way the Village funds its 2 public safety pension plans (for police and fire) in order to address unfunded liabilities in those plans (currently at $56.5 million and growing without structural changes) and even-out and ultimately reduce anticipated Village contributions to those plans. The structural change involves moving to a 15-year rolling amortization schedule, and is anticipated to result in greater Village contributions to those plans in FY 2020-2023, but ultimately $38 million less in Village contributions between now and 2040 compared to the current policy. Increased contributions in the earlier years are anticipated to be funded by General Fund reserves and tax levy increases. Village staff indicated that making this change would be preferred by bond rating agencies, with hopes that the change could help Wilmette retain its Aaa bond rating, which is important as it helps to minimize future debt costs.
Park Board: The Park Board is continuing its review and hearing public comments on the Village Stormwater Plan, which calls for retention tanks in 3 parks. This month the Park Board held a public hearing on the plan as it relates to Hibbard Park, and heard from the Village’s engineering firm and Park District’s architecture firm on placement alternatives for the tank at Hibbard that would preserve space for a potential building of a new rec center at Hibbard, given that the current CRC was not built to be a rec center (it was originally a school) and that the Park District may in the 100-year life span of the tank want to replace the CRC. They advised that the best space for the tank while preserving space for a CRC replacement building (while underscoring there are no plans to do so) would be east of the current building along Glenview Road, then turning north along Skokie Blvd and in the triangular wedge at the north end of the park. The existing skate park in that area would be replaced and about 40 trees in that area would be cut down. With respect to the tanks at both Hibbard and Community Playfields, public input has included residents who say Park District should prioritize allowing the biggest tank possible at both locations to provide the greatest stormwater relief, as well as residents who say the Park District should prioritize tree conservation in determining tank placement.
NTHS D. 203 Board of Ed: The BoE approved a 5-year contract extension for Superintendent Paul Sally beginning July 2019, 1 year prior to when his initial 3-year contract was set to expire. The BoE also received its annual School Climate Report, which mostly showed positive results, though indicated some concerns around social-emotional safety and social media and also a less positive experience for students with racial identities that are not white.
WPS D. 39 Board of Ed: The BoE reviewed the 2019-20 non-operating funds tentative budget and received a mid-year report of this year’s new strategic initiatives, Differentiated Instruction and Nutrition.
Wilmette Library Board: The Library Board in a 5-1 vote approved a bid to replace 10-year old phone equipment and heard that the start date for its outdoor renovation may be delayed because of issues getting permits from the Village.
Upcoming Meetings that We Will Observe in the Next Month:
Wilmette Library Board: Finance Committee April 15, Board April 16
WPS D. 39: Committee-of-the-Whole April 15, Board of Ed April 22
NTHS D. 203 Board of Ed: April 15
Village Board: April 23, May 14
Park Board: May 13
Since last month’s report, LWVW Observers attended various local government board meetings, and observed the following:
Village Board: By consensus the VB agreed to make a major structural change to the way the Village funds its 2 public safety pension plans (for police and fire) in order to address unfunded liabilities in those plans (currently at $56.5 million and growing without structural changes) and even-out and ultimately reduce anticipated Village contributions to those plans. The structural change involves moving to a 15-year rolling amortization schedule, and is anticipated to result in greater Village contributions to those plans in FY 2020-2023, but ultimately $38 million less in Village contributions between now and 2040 compared to the current policy. Increased contributions in the earlier years are anticipated to be funded by General Fund reserves and tax levy increases. Village staff indicated that making this change would be preferred by bond rating agencies, with hopes that the change could help Wilmette retain its Aaa bond rating, which is important as it helps to minimize future debt costs.
Park Board: The Park Board is continuing its review and hearing public comments on the Village Stormwater Plan, which calls for retention tanks in 3 parks. This month the Park Board held a public hearing on the plan as it relates to Hibbard Park, and heard from the Village’s engineering firm and Park District’s architecture firm on placement alternatives for the tank at Hibbard that would preserve space for a potential building of a new rec center at Hibbard, given that the current CRC was not built to be a rec center (it was originally a school) and that the Park District may in the 100-year life span of the tank want to replace the CRC. They advised that the best space for the tank while preserving space for a CRC replacement building (while underscoring there are no plans to do so) would be east of the current building along Glenview Road, then turning north along Skokie Blvd and in the triangular wedge at the north end of the park. The existing skate park in that area would be replaced and about 40 trees in that area would be cut down. With respect to the tanks at both Hibbard and Community Playfields, public input has included residents who say Park District should prioritize allowing the biggest tank possible at both locations to provide the greatest stormwater relief, as well as residents who say the Park District should prioritize tree conservation in determining tank placement.
NTHS D. 203 Board of Ed: The BoE approved a 5-year contract extension for Superintendent Paul Sally beginning July 2019, 1 year prior to when his initial 3-year contract was set to expire. The BoE also received its annual School Climate Report, which mostly showed positive results, though indicated some concerns around social-emotional safety and social media and also a less positive experience for students with racial identities that are not white.
WPS D. 39 Board of Ed: The BoE reviewed the 2019-20 non-operating funds tentative budget and received a mid-year report of this year’s new strategic initiatives, Differentiated Instruction and Nutrition.
Wilmette Library Board: The Library Board in a 5-1 vote approved a bid to replace 10-year old phone equipment and heard that the start date for its outdoor renovation may be delayed because of issues getting permits from the Village.
Upcoming Meetings that We Will Observe in the Next Month:
Wilmette Library Board: Finance Committee April 15, Board April 16
WPS D. 39: Committee-of-the-Whole April 15, Board of Ed April 22
NTHS D. 203 Board of Ed: April 15
Village Board: April 23, May 14
Park Board: May 13
As of March 18, 2019:
Village Board: Approved expansion of a special use and a 3-space parking variation for Harper School construction related to anticipated Kindergarten Enrichment; multiple neighbors voiced concerns, citing current parking/traffic/safety problems in the area. Neighbors’ concerns were noted and a commitment was made to address them. Approved a recodification of the Village Code, with changes that staff reports are mostly technical or consistent with current practice. Heard from Loyola Academy students advocating for affordable housing.
Park Board: Held its first public hearing on the VIllage Stormwater Plan as it affects the parks. Will hold two more public hearings at the beginning of the next two board meetings (April 8 and May 13), and Park District staff will hold meetings at the affected parks on April 3 (Community Playfield), April 24 (Hibbard) and May 22 (Thornwood). Residents who spoke or wrote in about the plan mostly wanted the plan to go forward without delay. The Park Board is especially interested in input about what enhancements residents want made to the parks as a part of the construction. Our League has previously asked the Park Board to determine the potential positive/negative environmental, economic and usage impacts the plan has on the parks, particularly in light of potential changing needs over the 100-year life span of the tanks.
WPS District 39 Board of Education: Approved bids for this summer’s HMS construction totalling ~$3.5M and hopes to go out to bid in March for this summer’s proposed Harper KE construction. Received a mid-year report on the second part of this year’s strategic plan (mid-year on 3rd part next month). Heard from administrators about how they are addressing vaping concerns, mostly at WJHS, and about surveys regarding changes made this year to instrumental music program.
NTHS District 203 Board of Education: Heard from administrators on Student Well Being Report, with much discussion on concerns regarding stress, binge drinking and unhealthy weight management techniques. Approved maximum allocation of $177,767 for scholarships for class of 2019 from Scholarship Trust Fund, a separate 501(c)(3) scholarship organization that has been in existence for 70 years and had assets of $3,289,345.39 on December 31, 2018.
Library Board: Approved bids for this spring’s outdoor renovation project.
Join us in this important work and become an observer! Contact Mary Lawlor at lwvwobservers@gmail.com
Village Board: Approved expansion of a special use and a 3-space parking variation for Harper School construction related to anticipated Kindergarten Enrichment; multiple neighbors voiced concerns, citing current parking/traffic/safety problems in the area. Neighbors’ concerns were noted and a commitment was made to address them. Approved a recodification of the Village Code, with changes that staff reports are mostly technical or consistent with current practice. Heard from Loyola Academy students advocating for affordable housing.
Park Board: Held its first public hearing on the VIllage Stormwater Plan as it affects the parks. Will hold two more public hearings at the beginning of the next two board meetings (April 8 and May 13), and Park District staff will hold meetings at the affected parks on April 3 (Community Playfield), April 24 (Hibbard) and May 22 (Thornwood). Residents who spoke or wrote in about the plan mostly wanted the plan to go forward without delay. The Park Board is especially interested in input about what enhancements residents want made to the parks as a part of the construction. Our League has previously asked the Park Board to determine the potential positive/negative environmental, economic and usage impacts the plan has on the parks, particularly in light of potential changing needs over the 100-year life span of the tanks.
WPS District 39 Board of Education: Approved bids for this summer’s HMS construction totalling ~$3.5M and hopes to go out to bid in March for this summer’s proposed Harper KE construction. Received a mid-year report on the second part of this year’s strategic plan (mid-year on 3rd part next month). Heard from administrators about how they are addressing vaping concerns, mostly at WJHS, and about surveys regarding changes made this year to instrumental music program.
NTHS District 203 Board of Education: Heard from administrators on Student Well Being Report, with much discussion on concerns regarding stress, binge drinking and unhealthy weight management techniques. Approved maximum allocation of $177,767 for scholarships for class of 2019 from Scholarship Trust Fund, a separate 501(c)(3) scholarship organization that has been in existence for 70 years and had assets of $3,289,345.39 on December 31, 2018.
Library Board: Approved bids for this spring’s outdoor renovation project.
Join us in this important work and become an observer! Contact Mary Lawlor at lwvwobservers@gmail.com
Governments We're Monitoring
Wilmette Village Board of Trustees:
The Village Board is the legislative and policy-making body of the Village and includes the Village President and six Trustees. The Village Board usually meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at Village Hall. Regular Village Board meetings are broadcast live on cable Channel 6 and replayed the following day at 1 pm.
https://www.wilmette.com/village-board/
The Village Board is the legislative and policy-making body of the Village and includes the Village President and six Trustees. The Village Board usually meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at Village Hall. Regular Village Board meetings are broadcast live on cable Channel 6 and replayed the following day at 1 pm.
https://www.wilmette.com/village-board/
Board of Park Commissioners
The Board of Park Commissioners oversees the administration of the Wilmette Park District.
Meetings are usually held on the 2nd Monday of each month in the Village Hall Council Chambers at 7:30 pm.
Wilmette Park District Administrative Offices: 847-256-6100
Website: www.wilmettepark.org
The Board of Park Commissioners oversees the administration of the Wilmette Park District.
Meetings are usually held on the 2nd Monday of each month in the Village Hall Council Chambers at 7:30 pm.
Wilmette Park District Administrative Offices: 847-256-6100
Website: www.wilmettepark.org
Wilmette Public Library Board of Trustees
The Library Board generally meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm in the Staff Lounge at the Wilmette Public Library
The Library Board generally meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm in the Staff Lounge at the Wilmette Public Library
District 39: Wilmette Elementary
Board of Education meetings are usually held on the 4th Monday of the month at 7 pm at the Mikaelian Education Center. Changes to this schedule are posted on the website.
Website: www.wilmette39.org
Board of Education meetings are usually held on the 4th Monday of the month at 7 pm at the Mikaelian Education Center. Changes to this schedule are posted on the website.
Website: www.wilmette39.org
District 203: New Trier High School
Meetings are usually held on the 3rd Monday of the month. The board meets at 7:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room (C234) at the Northfield Campus. Meeting dates are subject to change.
Website: www.newtrier.k12.il.us
Meetings are usually held on the 3rd Monday of the month. The board meets at 7:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room (C234) at the Northfield Campus. Meeting dates are subject to change.
Website: www.newtrier.k12.il.us
